Theatre and Culture from Scotland, starring The List's Theatre Editor, his performance persona and occasional guest stars. Experimental writings, cod-academic critiques and all his opinions, stolen or original.

Wednesday, 2 March 2016

A Top Ten

Finn Den Hertog asked about 'the best plays of the last thirty years'. I am going for a top ten - with comments. Not in order, except as they dribble out of my noggin.BlackbirdDavid Harrower's forensic analysis of the aftermath of child abuse doesn't just play with the audience's values: it provides two profound character analyses. It nails the emotional trauma of abuse, tracing how it goes on to define and destroy lives.Iphigenia in SplottPolitically, I have issues. But the script is so exacting, so passionate, it hides the problems while allowing the solo performer to find new depths of expression.Bloody MessOh, do Forced Entertainment make plays? This one explains why they are regulars on academic studies, a full-blown reflection of life in its alienated complexity. Totally tripped me out.AalstI saw the English translation, but it is another bold take on child abuse. Minimal, economical and disturbing, it refuses piety about social exclusion and strips back staging to an irreducible core of horror.Prudencia HartIt's fun and smart. It has music, it has Kylie songs, it has a sly sense of irony and a love of traditional ballads.The AuthorOh hell, another one about child abuse. It's clever and does that complicity thing with the audience... Tim Crouch acts like he's your mate, then gets heavy...WonderlandTook a while for me to get it, but since I had to write three reviews to sort out my feelings... it's hardcore, and not just the subject matter.Interlude: I have just noticed how many of these are about the abuse of women or children. A topic for another time...Paul Bright's Confessions...No list of Scottish theatre is complete without this... and they published my response in their script. Playful and serious, it's a play beyond a play within a play...Long Live The Little KnifeI love me some David Leddy. It's the blend of really intelligent ideas and vaudeville humour. It's a heist, it's a shaggy dog tale, it messes with live performance. It has some abuse in it. Oh hell.The EncounterSolo show and a prime example of post-visual theatre. As a bonus, my nomination for worst script that still gets respect (for context)The CrucibleCan you guess which white male is the hero? Tedious and too full of its own virtue to have any dramatic tension.

Absurd opinions, extended reviews, random press releases from The Arts, half baked ideas, unsuccessful experiments with the format of criticism. Brought to you by the host of The Vile Arts Radio Hour and former Theatre Editor of The Skinny, now working with The List